With over 50 young men in the program, new equipment and more experience, the wrestling team is ready to dominate the 2nd half of the wrestling season, which is capped off with playoffs. Right in the middle of one of the most competitive districts in Texas 4A wrestling, the wrestlers have high hopes to send multiple wrestlers to regionals and possibly state. Last year, sophomore Austin Crawford and senior Colby Zugg represented the program at regionals.

The high number of wrestlers is extremely unusual, and is the most in the district if not the whole state. Among those in the program are the few seniors who have helped evolve the program from its start their sophomore year. Along with new seniors, the program now has two varsity teams, Black being the top of the depth chart and Silver being a rank under, followed by junior varsity. The dual varsity team concept is not uncommon around the state, and was enacted by Coach Cooper to avoid limiting the talent of upper and lower classmen.

“The growth in numbers and talent on this team is growing much faster than I had ever expected,” Coach Cooper, head wrestling coach, said.

This year the program has seen its largest group of rookies, wrestlers with no prior experience (not necessary upper or lower class). Coupled with the late start to official pre-season practices due to football playoffs, the team faced the potential to have a rough season start and wrestled it to the ground with hard work and effort.

“This year’s group has out worked and pushed harder than any other group I have ever coached,” Coach Cooper said 

Winning a wrestling match takes more than mediocre effort and “some” focus; it requires hard work during practice, in the weight room and in the classroom. The wrestlers practice about two hours a day, usually four times a week, after an eight hour school day.

“Whenever I am working out or practicing I think about my opponent. I picture him working hard. It makes me want to work even harder so that when I wrestle him, I have the advantage. We have been working hard all year for this and that will show on the mat,” junior Keegan Pitts, a wrestler on the Varsity Black team, said.

The wrestling program has accomplished multiple achievements this season. On January 6^th, the Varsity Black team wrestled in the CenTex Invitation at the Delco Center in downtown Austin, Texas, a tournament that attracts some of the best wrestlers in the region, and took home multiple medals. Both Varsity teams were also invited to the Pflugerville ISD Duals, a major honor which extended the wrestling program’s presence in the region when the teams took home 1^st and 2^nd place. The junior varsity also made its mark by placing first in the Cedar Park JV Tournament, beating Vista Ridge, Cedar Park, Westlake and more.

The varsity district wrestling meet will begin Friday, February 4^th and run through Saturday. The junior varsity will wrestle on Saturday only. The 1^st and 2^nd place qualifying wrestlers in each weight class will travel to San Antonio for the Regional tournament next weekend.

“I’m trying to prepare for my matches by learning the techniques and the rules as this is my first year wrestling. I believe that even though this is my first year I will do well,” junior Brandon Parmely, rookie wrestler, said.